Sorry I have been MIA

It has been an unusual & fuller month than I am used to. Every time I think I will just sit down & write a post...I get distracted or something comes up. So this morning I just told myself to write...even if it is just word vomit. Yucky thought I know, but accurate.

The end of last month was when the ride began. Grandma got Bronchitis and at 98 years old you need someone around to make you take your medicine...just like a kid :) Just as spunky too. So hubby & his sister took turns staying with her, all day every day, until their parents came back up from Florida for the season a tad early.Grandma went to stay with them right away. And that is when she decided enough was enough. She had zero appetite & often happens when you age - you shrink but your esophagus does not, so it was difficult to swallow regardless of appetite. She got really weak, very tired, but was still with us mentally. She was ready. She told us so. The family was always by her side 24/7. The hospice doc told us it would only be a few days. It was amazing to be with her so close to the end. My MIL and her twin were with her at the very end. She lived a wonderful long life & went out on her own terms - ready, willing & with those she loved at her side. Her memorial service was full of vibrant colors & laughter - just like she wanted.

Hubby had to do the service the day after grandma's memorial, so all week we were doubly busy with family & him writing. It was oddly perfect timing given the subject matter though. Talking about grandma was just right for the sermon - made the service that much more moving.

Now I have a large cross stitch to finish for her. That was the deal. I got to have the scroll frames as long as I finish her piece. There are actually 2 and luckily the one I said I will finish has a chart...the other is a mystery. But it now looks like a creature wearing steampunk goggles, so I might go with that theme. Thankfully she did not give me a deadline :P

Then there is all the little stuff that gets in the way of a schedule...which I kinda suck at anyway.
The little guy - who turned 5 this past weekend! - started the soccer season during the past month. And we are so glad that he goes willingly this time around. Not fun when you have to take a mopey one to practice.

And to show off his goodies, because he asked me to show my friends on the computer...

The oldest, well, I guess his schedule only got altered by having to watch his little brother from time to time more so than usual.

And me. I am happy to say that this past month I received some custom orders :) Well, one order had been around, but it was only a couple weeks ago that the fabric choices were finalized. Which got me thinking about changing up or at least having a set "procedure" for custom orders. It can get quite difficult to chose fabrics when people do not really know what they want. Although, it is so fun window shopping!

These are the fabrics she decided on for her bridal party's gifts:

So hopefully I will get back to my regular blogging. But I may still fall short at times since I decided to put me first at times so I can work on, well, me...making me less of me anyway...particularly around the waist-hip-thigh area would be preferred :P

Where did October go?

Really, what happened to it? I have been totally MIA when it comes to my blogs. Scratch that, I managed a couple treasury posts on Tilt Treasures (creepy, spooky and devil), a create update on Tilt's Creations and some Wordless Wednesdays. Wooppeee.
I would love to say that I have had so many orders coming in that I just could not tear myself away from the sewing machine. But alas, that was not the case. Nor was it anything exciting.
The first weekend of October I was down near Nashville visiting my brother & his family. It was my new nephew's baptism. Ok, that is kind of a vacation. A vacation from my own family & home...I went with my parents while hubby stayed back with the kids who had school & stuff. It was great going down there - it was the 1st time since they moved last year. I brought my niece a little chef's hat I made...I didn't want her to feel left out.

It was nice to be home again though. Except being sick. Yes, I spent those first 2 weeks of the month under the weather. Nothing major, but enough to not want to do anything.
I did manage to make and list some new backpacks and handbags. I also have 3 out of 4 new purses finished. It has been so long since I've blogged I am not sure if I have showed off my newest batch of clutches either (in both my Artfire and Etsy shops).

I also went to the Bang to a Different Beat Fashion Show for breast cancer awareness in Flint one weekend. The models were sporting some really cool hairstyles by Summerset Salon. Crystal from Flint Handmade took some pics of my & my mom at my table & one of my fave hairdos...

I am hoping to get back into my normal blogging groove next week - or sooner. I have one more day to get my Etsyblogger of the month post up. I have been doing this at the end of the month anyway, so I don't feel too far behind there.